Immunomodulatory Function of Vitamin D and Its Role in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Abstract

Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients required by the human body. It is a steroid hormone that plays an important role in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and bone health. Epidemiological studies have revealed a close correlation between vitamin D and many common chronic diseases. Additionally, vitamin D has recently been shown to act as an immunomodulatory hormone, and, accordingly, vitamin D deficiency was uncovered as a risk factor for autoimmune thyroid diseases, although the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. It is therefore necessary to disclose the role and mechanism of action of vitamin D in the occurrence and development of autoimmune thyroid diseases. This knowledge will help design intervention and early treatment strategies for patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases who present with low levels of vitamin D.

Potential Risk Factors for Isolated Hypothyroxinemia in Women of Childbearing Age—Results from Retrospective Analysis

“…Via what mechanism does vitamin D deficiency contribute to hypothyroxinaemia is unknown. The well documented immunomodulatory function of vitamin D and the contribution of vitamin D deficiency to autoimmune thyroid disease [31] should be neglected, as IH is repeatedly found in the literature to be not associated with thyroid antibodies [2]. Consistently, none of our patients with IH had positive thyroid antibodies.…”

Effects of vitamin D in thyroid autoimmune pathologies: literature review and own data

“…Припускають, що автоімунні захворювання, включно з цукровим діабетом (ЦД) 1-го типу, автоімунним тиреоїдитом (АІТ), запальними захворюваннями кишечника, ревматоїдним артритом, системним червоним вовчаком і розсіяним склерозом, можуть бути пов'язані з дисбалансом VD. У цьому контексті VD може відігравати важливу роль у модуляції вродженого й адаптивного імунітету [1,7,9].…”

“…З огляду на імуномодулюючу роль VD його зв'язок з AIT інтенсивно вивчається останніми роками [7,18]. Відомо, що VD посилює вроджену імунну відповідь, одночасно пригнічуючи адаптивну імунну систему [1,9,22]. Активований VD (кальцитріол) модулює цитокіновий пул від прозапального до більш толерогенного імунного статусу.…”

Can vitamin D3 supplementation reduce the time to severe asthma exacerbations in children with asthma?

“…Host immune responses to respiratory viruses are important in asthma exacerbations. Mechanistic studies have identified immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory roles for vitamin D [ 4 , 5 ]. Figure 1 describes the actions of vitamin D on B-cells, T-cells and activated mast cells in the context of an allergen/virus-induced exacerbation of asthma.…”